HB 66-CONTROLLED SUB.;HOMICIDE;GOOD TIME DEDUC.  1:01:27 PM CHAIR VANCE announced that the first order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 66, "An Act relating to homicide resulting from conduct involving controlled substances; relating to the computation of good time; and providing for an effective date." 1:01:48 PM JOHN SKIDMORE, Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Law (DOL), on behalf of the House Rules Standing Committee, sponsor by request of the governor, provided a brief overview of HB 66. He stated that the bill would change the classification for the distribution of drugs to another person that results in that person's death from manslaughter to murder in the second degree. Further, it would place restrictions on the ability to receive good time for those individuals convicted of distributing a schedule IA through IVA controlled substance. CHAIR VANCE commenced invited testimony. 1:02:42 PM SANDY SNODGRASS, Founder, Alaska Fentanyl Response, shared that in 2021, her only son, Robert Bruce Snodgrass, was killed by fentanyl at age 22 in Anchorage. His death was ruled an accidental overdose; however, she argued that it should have been ruled a "drug-induced homicide" and prosecuted as second- degree murder. She argued that the bill would serve as a deterrent to individuals dealing illegal drugs and enable law enforcement and district attorneys to negotiate cooperation from lower-level drug dealers in exchange for higher level associates. She emphasized that the intent of the legislation was to reach high level dealers bringing Fentanyl into Alaska at alarming rates. She opined that the legislation would demonstrate to Alaskans that their leaders were taking action to protect the state and punish perpetrators who were poisoning members of the community. She urged the committee to advance HB 66 to the House Finance Committee. She discussed the Alaska Fentanyl Response project. She outlined a three-pronged approach to the [Fentanyl] epidemic: AK Fentanyl Response Project, which provided prevention, awareness, and education to Alaska communities; law enforcement, which the bill would enable; and substance abuse treatment. 1:07:47 PM CHAIR VANCE opened public testimony on HB 66. 1:08:27 PM MIKE DUNDES, Representing Self, stated his opposition to Section 2 of HB 66, which would remove the possibility of good time deductions from a long list of drug-related crimes. He shared that he was presently overcoming his struggles with alcohol addiction. He stressed that by removing the possibility of receiving a good time deduction, the incentive to seek treatment would also be reduced. He emphasized the importance of good time for first time offenders, as it offered a second chance to become a better citizen. He argued that removing the incentive could cause first time law breakers to give up hope and become less likely to continue on a path of recovery. 1:10:54 PM THOMAS NORRIS, Representing Self, expressed his opposition to Section 2 of HB 66. He said he was speaking as a man in recovery who had made bad decisions in his past that he regretted wholeheartedly. He opined that three factors could deter a person from repeating past mistakes: hope, support, and labels. He shared his belief that addicts did not deserve to be judged as "monsters," nor should they be locked away without the possibility of getting help or seeing their family. He urged the committee to fight the stigma for those struggling with addiction. 1:13:30 PM The committee took a brief at-ease. 1:13:48 PM CHAIR VANCE closed public testimony on HB 66. She announced that the bill was held over.